Residents trying to reenter will need to show their driver’s license or registration. Residents are encouraged to leave heavy equipment alone. Please do not remove the flags on your property. Those are a signal to first responders the area has been cleared for reentry.

The Black Forest Water Distribution Center located at Black Forest and Burgess Roads is an approved water source for use by residents affected by the Black Forest Fire. Residents of areas where mandatory evacuations are lifted who need potable water can use this 24-hour self serve option. People who use this service are asked to please make sure the water source is closed and turned off after use so water is not wasted. Plastic water containers have been donated and will be available at the distribution center for individuals that need water containers. As a guideline, people need a minimum of 2 gallons of water per person, per day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding use of the following containers to store safe water: containers that cannot be sealed tightly; containers that can break, such as glass bottles; containers that have ever been used for any toxic solid or liquid chemicals (includes old bleach containers); plastic or cardboard bottles, jugs, and containers used for milk or fruit juices.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sheriff Terry Maketa:

Another day of no growth, no loss of structure and we’ve begun and “aggressive repopulation” effort to get more people home.

Planning to open another section later this evening. Pressing the firefighters to say when they can render these areas safe. Bridle Bit area will open at 8 this evening. Tahosa Lane will not open. It still has hotspots.

Late yesterday afternoon saw a flare up on Mt. Herman Road. An example of the fire season we’re in.

Will be in discussion with fire officials tomorrow to consider opening the area west of Meridian up to fire line. Pretty confident will be able to get those areas open.

The area of probably greatest density will remain closed. It’s the corridor bordered by Shoup on south and north to a line above Swan Road. It had the greatest concentration of devastation. Residents are anxious to get in. Says he wants to let them in. But there’s a need to preserve evidence for the potential of prosecution (Don’t know that it is a crime, but it’s being investigated as such.)

To allow people to go in and trample through compromises the crime scene.

Also, several layers of government are involved. Can’t go back on promises to other agencies on when it’s ok to get everyone home. Once the checklists are complete, it will be a priority to get people in that area home.

“And (for) a lot of you, it’s not going home. You’re going to rubble. And we want to make sure we have the resources you need there. “

The fire teams walk a grid to determine it’s safe. They like to do this three times, but they’ve agreed after one walk, they’ll open up parts of the “Shoup Road corridor” for residents to come see what remains of their property. Announcements will direct residents of the Shoup Corridor to a staging area, and they alone will be escorted in to see the site. If you want to leave quickly or stay for a hew hours, you will be accommodated.

He’s pressuring Rich Harvey to let citizens in, and to focus on hotspots so more areas can be opened. Cautiously expects that tomorrow or Wednesday he’ll be able to start letting people in to look at the Shoup Corridor.

“We have a plan. We’re not ignoring you, and we’re with you.”

It’s a priority to get everyone home, whether you have a home to get to or not.

Another missing person report came in yesterday, but the person was found, so the fatalities remain at 2.

Lack of smoke on the horizon gives false impression that it’s all over. It’s not.

Incident Commander Rich Harvey:

A couple of scares last night from lightening strikes within the fire zone, but they were extinguished.

Feeling pretty good.

Trying to make the area safe to visit, in part by downing damaged trees.

Flagging on a mailbox means a crew has been through once on its mission to make the area safe.

Cost to date: $5.5 million.

Never seen firefighters so happy to see people supporting them along the roads. Some of the crews say they want to come out and greet people but they can’t because they’ll start to cry. This phase of the fire is a “grind” and it’s hard to stay motivated, but the support from the community boosts morale.

Commissioner Darryl Glenn:

Aspen Pointe has mental health counselors at the Disaster Recovery Center. Would like help getting contact info for HOA and neighborhood leaders for recovery phase.

Email is more effective than phone calls as a way to reach him and pass along contact info.

No significant update on investigation into cause. Waiting for some special equipment to arrive. No new cases of burglary or looting over night.

Prosecutor Dan May:

Message to looters: We will show you the same compassion you’ve shown victims. Looters, you better have your bags packed and get your affairs in order. Because you’ll be evacuated from your home for many, many years.

People returning home may find their doors or windows broken. Report them. They may have been broken by firefighters trying to save the home, or it may have been a burglar. That will be determined.

Zero tolerance now for fireworks, open burning or lit cigarettes tossed out windows.

Maketa:

4,100 people are still in mandatory evacuation. 16,200 in pre-evac.

Clarified the border streets. Residents of west side of Winchester can go home, not yet for the east side. On Hardy Road, the north side can go home, south side residents need to remain patient.

Shoup corridor – Working on a plan to get you in for a visit, in limited access. You’ll later get credentials so you can come and go.

Deputies say they’ve been hugged by many tearful residents. Says this is a hugely emotional time. Encourages people to visit counselors at the Disaster Assistance Center. “It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.”

Says cooperation from residents has improved and there have been fewer people sneaking in. There will be no placard system. Residents do not need placards. (Although Shoup Corridor residents will get credentials.)

11:15 AM:
Latest press conference is about to start. The county has released more are from mandatory evacuation. The following areas have been downgraded to pre-evac:

South of Walker Rd.
East of Bar X Rd. and Highland Estates Rd.
North of Hodgen Rd.
West of Winchester Rd.
North side of Morgan Rd.
North side of Hardy Rd.

This does not include the areas east of Winchester Rd., south of Morgan Rd. and south of Hardy Rd. Including the following roads north of Hodgen Rd:
(areas north of Hodgen Rd. still under mandatory evacuation)
Remington Rd.
Rifle Terrace
West Goshawk Rd.
East Goshawk Rd.
Albert Ridge View

Residents trying to reenter will need to show their driver’s license or registration. Residents are encouraged to leave heavy equipment alone. Please do not remove the flags on your property. Those are a signal to first responders the area has been cleared for reentry.

Residents need to use the following reentry points:
From the west – use Hodgen Rd. or Walker Rd.
From the east – use Evans Rd. or McCune Rd.
From the north – use County Line Rd. to Black Forest Rd. or Meridian Rd.

Meridian Rd. North of Hodgen Rd. is now open.

Current evacuation status as of around 6PM Sun. Click the photo for a larger version hosted by El Paso County.

8 AM:

The fire remains 65% contained. Those returning to last night’s downgraded evacuation areas are reminded to access from the north off Hodgen Road. Electricity was shut off; dumpsters will be available at 10 am at the North Black Forest Fire Station on the turnout at Ridge Run Road and at the Southeast corner of Burgess, and the El Paso County Slash and Mulch Site on Herring Road. Heavy duty plastic trash bags will be available at these sites as well. The next press briefing is at 11:15 AM.

The latest preliminary home assessment (as up 7:30 PM Sunday) can be found here: 483 total loss, 17 partially damaged, 3633 appears unaffected. Information is subject to change.

The Disaster Assistance Center is open from 8-6 at the county’s Citizen Service Center off Garden of the Gods Road.

Tipline for information regarding the origin of the fire: (719) 444-8300

Want to volunteer? Email bffvolunteer@elpasoco.com with a specific area of interest for volunteering in the subject line.

World Arena in Colorado Springs is now a dropoff center for Care and Share. Care and Share is currently asking for unopened, non-perishable food items and snack items like canned tuna, peanut butter, protein bars and boxed meals.

Four areas of mandatory evacuation in El Paso County were downgraded to pre-evacuation status last night. Access is limited to residents, who must have a driver’s license or vehicle registration to prove residency. Residents entering the new pre-evacuation area need to enter from the north off of Hodgen Road. Returning residents should be aware of and yield to emergency vehicles. Law enforcement will continue patrols.

1. The area between Highland Estates Drive west to Black Forest Rd, from Walker Rd south to Hodgen Rd. is now on Pre Evac.

2. The area west of Vollmer Rd. from Hogden Rd south to just south of Kirk Dr, then west across Wildridge Rd. just south of Basin Dr. across Black Forest Rd, just south of Country Estates Lane, turning north west to connect with the current boundary line.
Kirk Dr. is now on Pre Evac
Basin Dr. is now on Pre Evac
Country Estates Lane is now on Pre Evac
Connaught Dr. is still in the Mandatory Evac zone.
Areas on the east side of Vollmer Rd are still in the Mandatory Evac zone.

3. The a small area just east of Hwy 83 including Abert Way and Chickaree Lane is now on Pre Evacuation

4. The area between Shoup Rd. south to Burgess Rd., from Howells Rd. east to Vollmer Rd. is now on Pre Evac status.
Shoup Road remains closed to all citizens for the safety of emergency personnel and emergency vehicles utilizing the road to continue to fight the fire.
Residents with addresses on Shoup Rd., Donavan Lane, Casey Lane, Glenridge Lane and Clear Lane will not be allowed to access their homes off of Shoup Rd.

Residents should know that electricity was shut off in these areas for an extended period of time, and dumpsters will be available at 10 am at the North Black Forest Fire Station on the turnout at Ridge Run Road and at the Southeast corner of Burgess, and the El Paso County Slash and Mulch Site on Herring Road. Heavy duty plastic trash bags will be available at these sites as well. Regular trash removal will resume on Tuesday.

March 3, 2015 | NPR · An estimated 1.6 billion people — many of them in the developing world — pay bribes for public services, according to a new book. The alternative may be no health care and no education.

March 3, 2015 | NPR · T. Geronimo Johnson’s latest follows four Berkeley students who take an American history class that leads to disaster. It’s an ambitious book about race that wants to say something big about America.